Why do cartoon people only have 4 fingers ?

Question

Futurama,Family guy,Simpsons and others their always with 4 fingers too,even like pupet people like crank-yankers and stuff whats the deal with that ?

Answer 1

It's a mystery. It's never been explained - but I think it's because they're easier to draw that way.

Answer 2

Five fingers vs. four. The reason animators and character designers trim down the animated hand is due to the added size the extra digit creates. There is also the concern that sometimes five fingers gets too hard to see clearly when animating action or in wide shots.

However, this is only really an issue in 2D animation since it's drawn or illustrated and scanned or photographed rather than rendered with a computer as it is in 3D.

As for the 3D media, that is a matter of artistic choice. Of course there are many, many examples of 2D animation that have five fingered characters. As the creation of the artwork has gotten easier to clean up and add detail.

I hope that helps.

Answer 3

During the war, while rationing was in effect, materials for producing comic strips, cartoons, puppets, and other forms of entainment were strictly monitored. In order to cut down on materials used, certain sacrifices were made. Much detail was eliminated from artwork, such as individual strands of hair, the texture of certain fabrics, shirts, pants, genitalia, etc. Since almost all characters had fingers and toes, eliminating one finger or toe from each hand or foot instantly saved a bundle. The trend stuck after the war and today it continues. A little bit of trivia: Leela from Futurama only has one eye. This is an inside reference among cartoon artists to those days of tight budgeting. "See," they're saying, "even an eye can be removed, and the show will go on."

Answer 4

Well, based on what i watched from a long time now, cartoon people only have four fingers because when it is five, it will look like bananas and rather despicable to see...observe those fingers and they are fat,thus making it four to at least make it look better...yes, this is actually true and not a story...but some cartoons like Kim Possible(just an example) has five fingers...so it doesn't really matter...the thing is, it is better if you just watch and not be bothered...don't let those fingers worry you...

Answer 5

Because when you draw a cartoon character with 5 fingers it looks wrong .. try it out, but also because 5 fingers are a lot harder to animate than 5.

Answer 6

They're drawn with four fingers to show that they're not real people. It emphasizes the fact that it's just a cartoon. Actually, in the Simpsons, God is drawn with five fingers.

Answer 7

It is due to a union rule. There is a different payscale for 5 fingered creatures and all the animation companies are too cheap to pay the higher wages.

Answer 8

Ay, mi corazon! You're so pretty it breaks my heart! Um - what was the question? Oh yeah, fingers. That's cause it really is difficult to draw cartoon hands with five fingers.

Answer 9

Don't you have 4 + a thumb?

Answer 10

It's a conspiracy. They'll go after you if you go any further than that. just kidding. guess they wanted to do something different. Cartoons are about bring out creativity. And let me tell you, cartoons with four fingers are pretty damn creative.